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Standoff Exposes EU Weaknesses, Analysts Say

By

John W. Miller in Brussels and

Andrew Osborn in Moscow

Updated Jan. 15, 2009 5:10 a.m. ET

As Russia and Ukraine continued to block gas exports to the European Union on Wednesday, analysts said the standoff is exposing two EU weaknesses: an ineffective energy policy and an erratically led foreign policy.

European Commission President Jos&eacute; Manuel Barroso on Wednesday threatened to advise EU companies to sue both countries if gas flows don't resume. Ukraine transits 80% of Russia's gas exports to the EU, accounting...